Gu Yuena withdrew her slender hand.
The lake water slowly rippled away from her fair, jade-like feet.
She lifted her eyes toward the top eight positions on the Supreme Ranking, which had yet to be revealed.
The Evil Emperor was only ninth, yet it had received two God Rank rewards.
If she ranked first, what would the Heavenly Dao bestow upon her?
At last, a trace of anticipation appeared in Gu Yuena's eyes.
"The reward for first place."
"It shouldn't disappoint me."
Sun Moon Empire.
Deep within the Evil Demon Forest.
Three golden pillars of light descended from the Heavenly Screen and merged into the Evil Emperor's enormous body.
Purple-black mist churned violently.
Dark red light flickered continuously within the Evil Emperor's single eye.
The power of two hundred thousand years of cultivation began to rapidly grow within its body.
Its life level, which had already reached its limit, immediately began to loosen.
A vast amount of heaven and earth energy poured into the Evil Emperor's true body.
Thick tentacles danced through the air as the surrounding space was squeezed by immense power, sending ripples spreading outward.
The Evil Emperor could clearly sense its cultivation approaching nine hundred and ninety thousand years.
"Two hundred thousand years of cultivation."
"The Heavenly Dao truly has not treated me poorly."
The Evil Emperor's Spiritual Power spread outward, enveloping the entire Evil Demon Forest.
The next moment, a sacred aura rose from within its body.
It was not power belonging to the Evil Eye Clan.
A strand of golden radiance slowly flowed through its dark red blood.
The golden radiance was initially exceedingly faint, yet it carried an ancient aura that transcended time and space.
The Evil Emperor's consciousness followed that strand of power to investigate it.
It saw a colossal dragon stretching across heaven and earth.
Its dragon head held the sun and moon in its jaws, while its body coiled around the river of stars.
One eye reflected the past, while the other reflected the future.
That was the Candle Dragon Bloodline.
The God-Level Bloodline reward had actually given the Evil Emperor a trace of the Torch Dragon's bloodline.
"Torch Dragon?"
The Evil Emperor's spiritual consciousness fluctuated violently.
Even a mere trace of bloodline caused a change in its very life essence.
The powers of time and space began to form a connection within its body.
Once the bloodline fully fused, it would be able to control a trace of the laws of time and space.
This had already surpassed the ordinary talents of Soul Beasts.
It had also surpassed the power that nine hundred and ninety thousand years of cultivation could provide.
Before the Evil Emperor could recover from the changes in its bloodline, the third reward had already merged into its consciousness.
Information about a mysterious Soul Skill clearly surfaced in its mind.
Time Stop.
After activation, it could temporarily halt time within a certain area.
The range and duration of the time halt would increase along with its strength.
Within the range of Time Stop, no living being could move.
Even beings with powerful Spiritual Power had to endure the suppression of the laws of time.
The Evil Emperor's single eye abruptly widened.
The next moment, space within several hundred miles fell into stagnation.
The wind stopped.
The mist stopped.
Leaves drifting down through the air froze midway.
In the distance, a flying Soul Beast was also frozen in midair.
Several breaths later, everything returned to normal.
The Evil Emperor withdrew its Spiritual Power, and the entire Evil Demon Forest returned to its original state.
It looked at its tentacles as its enormous body trembled slightly.
"Time Stop."
"As long as I use this Soul Skill, I can render my opponents incapable of resisting."
"Combined with the Light of Time and Space, who else can stop me?"
For the first time, the Evil Emperor felt that it had truly reached the pinnacle of the world.
Even if Di Tian appeared before it again, it was confident it could defeat him.
However, the Candle Dragon Bloodline had yet to fully fuse.
That strand of bloodline was hidden deep within its life source and required a long time to completely merge with its body.
Time Stop likewise required continuous practice.
The Evil Emperor did not immediately leave the Evil Demon Forest.
It wanted to first master these two powers.
"I am merely ninth, yet the rewards are already this terrifying."
The Evil Emperor raised its head toward the Heavenly Screen.
For the first time, reverence appeared in its enormous single eye.
"What exactly will those ranked above me receive?"
Spirit Hall.
Outside the Angel God's Temple.
Qian Daoliu stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the Sun Moon Continent displayed on the Heavenly Screen.
Sun Moon Empire.
Sun Moon Continent.
These two unfamiliar names had already become known across the entire continent.
Qian Daoliu remained silent for a long time, yet the shock in his eyes had not faded.
"Brother was not mad."
Thirty years ago, Qian Daochen had personally told him that beyond the Douluo Continent lay another continent.
That place possessed a Soul Tool civilization far surpassing that of the two great empires.
Qian Daoliu had not believed him at the time.
He had merely assumed that after returning from his travels, his brother had encountered some strange places and thus spoken those words.
But now, the Heavenly Screen had fully revealed the Sun Moon Continent before all living beings.
Cities of steel.
Powerful Soul Tools.
The Sun Moon Empire that revered the Evil Emperor as its totem.
All of it proved that everything Qian Daochen had said back then was true.
Qian Daoliu looked up at the Heavenly Screen and let out a soft sigh.
"After the ranking descended, the Douluo Continent truly is about to change."
Spirit Hall already had Bibi Dong, a Level 99 powerhouse.
The Sun Moon Continent now had the Evil Emperor, who had received rewards from the Heavenly Dao.
Once the two continents came into contact, tremendous changes would inevitably arise in the future.
At that moment, footsteps sounded in the distance.
Qian Renxue walked over from outside the temple.
She had already changed back into Spirit Hall attire.
Her golden hair fell to her waist, fine strands swaying gently with her steps.
Her luxurious dress clung to her slender figure, accentuating her neat waistline, while a pair of long, well-proportioned legs showed beneath the hem.
She walked up the steps, her features exquisite and her brows carrying a hint of contemplation.
Qian Daoliu turned around, and relief appeared on his face.
"Xue'er, you're back."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"Grandfather."
Qian Daoliu glanced at her.
"How did things go?"
"Nothing major for now."
Qian Renxue paused briefly, recalling the person she had met at the Chen Xin Tavern.
She raised her eyes to Qian Daoliu.
"Grandfather, I met a strange man today."
Qian Daoliu asked, "What kind of strange man?"
Qian Renxue briefly recounted what had happened at the tavern.
"He said he was my great-grandfather."
The instant those words fell, Qian Daoliu's expression changed.
"What?"
Seeing his reaction, Qian Renxue also grew suspicious.
"Grandfather, do you really have an older brother?"
Qian Daoliu fell silent for several breaths before slowly nodding.
"His name is Qian Daochen."
"He is my biological elder brother, and also the goal I have always pursued."
The surprise in Qian Renxue's eyes deepened.
"That man was Great-Grandfather?"
"I cannot be certain either." Qian Daoliu shook his head. "But if he is still alive, he will certainly hold a place within the top three of the Supreme Ranking."
Qian Renxue parted her lips.
"Top three?"
She knew Qian Daoliu's strength.
She also knew that her grandfather never praised others lightly.
Anyone Qian Daoliu acknowledged as a goal worth pursuing had to be far stronger than ordinary powerhouses.
Qian Daoliu stepped forward, his gaze falling on Qian Renxue.
"What else did he say?"
Qian Renxue recalled it for a moment.
"He said the thirty-year deadline had arrived, and he was returning to Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu was first stunned, then burst into laughter.
His laughter echoed outside the Angel God's Temple.
"It really is Brother!"
"No one but him would say something like that."
Qian Renxue looked at her grandfather, the confusion in her heart deepening.
"What kind of person is Great-Grandfather?"
Qian Daoliu restrained his smile and looked up at the Heavenly Screen.
"He is the most dazzling genius of the Angel Clan."
"He is also the strongest swordsman I have ever seen."
"When he returns, you will naturally understand."
Qian Renxue nodded softly.
She once again thought of that handsome face and his ever-calm demeanor.
Could that man truly be her great-grandfather?
Before you continue